Workout: The Swim-Run Brick

An alternative to the traditional triathlon back-to-back session

“In triathlon training, the transition is almost a fourth discipline,” says Dana Staggs, triathlon coach for Equinox at South Bay in Los Angeles. “As you switch modes of exercise, your body needs to effectively and efficiently prepare for the next demand while recovering from the previous exercise demand.”

The best way for your body to learn how to handle the aerobic, anaerobic, and muscular demands that comes with racing a triathlon is through a “brick” workout. A brick workout involves stacking two disciplines during the same workout, one after the other with minimal to no interruption in between. It gives you a good idea of what you’re in for when it comes to running on tired legs after cycling.

You’ll also see gains in aerobic fitness and the ability to train at a higher level with lower levels of perceived exertion. Most bricks tend the be bike/run variety, but Staggs likes to switch it up with swim/run bricks and include intervals early in the training calendar to help athletes increase their base endurance faster. Boost your strength and test your muscles with his workout below.

SWIM

Warm Up (100m free, 100m kick, 100m pull, 100m non-free)

To do the 100m intervals, Staggs suggests doing them at [time intervals of] 1:30, 1:40 or 1:50 with built-in 10 seconds rest. Meaning, if you swim your first 100m in 1:20, you’ll do the 1:30 intervals, because you’ll get 10 seconds rest at the pace you’re swimming. The same applies to the 200m/15-second rest intervals.